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STATE OF FLORIDA 



General and Special La ws 

Relating to 

Salt Water Fisheries 



Compiled by T. R. Hodges, State Salt Water 
Fish Commissioner, Tallahassee, Florida 




T. J. Appleyard, State Printer 
Tallahassee, Fla. 






WW- 



of ^* 



ft 1916 



kv 



FLORIDA SALT WATER FISH LAWS 

AN ACT to Protect and Regulate the Salt 
Water Fishing Industry of the State of 
Florida, and to Provide Penalties for the 
Violation of this Act. 

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the 
State of Florida- 

OWNERSHIP BY STATE 

Section 1. That all fish in the rivers, 
bayous, lagoons, lakes, bays, sounds and in- 
lets, bordering on or connected with the 
Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, or 
in the Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic Ocean, 
within the jurisdiction of the State of 
Florida, are hereby declared and shall con- 
tinue and remain the property of the State 
of Florida, and may be taken and used by 
citizens of this State and persons not citi- 
zens of this State, subject to the restrictions 
and reservations hereinafter imposed by 
this Act. 

SIZE OF BAR AND MESH 

Sec. 2. It shall be from and after Septem- 
ber 30th, 1915, unlawful for any person, per- 
sons, firm or corporation to catch any fish in 
any of the salt waters of the State of Flor- 
ida with any seine, gill-net, pocket net or 
any other kind of net of less size than one 



2 Florida Half Mater Fish Lairs. 

and one-half inch bar, measured from knot 
to knot, or a stretched mesh of three inches 
from knot to knot after being tarred or 
shrunk. 

LENGTH OF NETS 

Sec. 3. It shall be unlawful for an}' seine, 
gill-net, stop-net, haul-nets or any other kind 
of nets of a greater length than three hun- 
dred and fifty yards, to be set, fished or used 
in the salt-waters of this State, or for any 
seine, gill-net, stop-net, haul-net or any 
other kind of net to be attached together in 
any manner, making a length of more than 
three hundred and fifty yards, or for any 
seine, gill-net, stop-net, haul-net or any other 
kind of net to be fastened by stakes or other- 
wise with ends nearer each other than one 
hundred yards for the purpose of making a 
stretch or length of more than three hundred 
and fifty yards, to be used for the purpose of 
catching or taking fish from the rivers, 
creeks, bays, bayous, lagoons, sounds, inlets 
or other salt waters on the coast of the 
State of Florida ; Provided, however, that a 
net or nets of a length of more than three 
hundred and fifty yards may be used in reg- 
ular mullet or mackerel fishing. 

BAR AND MESH SHAD NETS 

Sec. 4. No person shall place out in the 
rivers of the State of Florida any gill net 



Florida Salt Water Fish Laics. 3 

for the capture of shad, of a less size than 
two and one-half inch bar from knot to knot, 
or five-inch stretched mesh from knot to 
knot. 

STOP NETTING 

Sec. 5. It shall be unlawful for any per- 
son, persons, firm or corporation to place or 
set any seine, net or other set device across 
or in any of the rivers, creeks, bayous, or 
passes in the State of Florida, for the pur- 
pose of stop-netting such rivers, creeks, 
bayous or passes for the purpose of catch- 
ing fish. 

CLOSE SEASON FOR SHAD 

Sec. 6. It shall be unlawful for any per- 
son, persons, firm or corporation to catch or 
capture any shad or to use any gill net or 
seine for the capture of shad between April 
1st and December 1st of every year. 

CONFISCATION ILLEGAL NETS 

Sec. 7. In all cases of arrest and convic- 
tion for the use of illegal nets, as provided 
in this Act, such illegal nets shall be consid- 
ered a nuisance and the court shall order 
the bunts of such illegal nets to be destroyed 
immediately after such trial and conviction, 
and the leads, corks and lines belonging to 
such nets shall be returned to the owner. 



4 Florida Salt Water Fish La W8. 

CLOSED SEASON FOR MULLET 

Sec. 8. That from and after the passage 
of this Act, it shall be unlawful for any per- 
son, persons, firm or corporation to catch or 
to capture, or have in their possession, or 
ship any of the lish known as mullet, or any 
fresh or freshly-salted mullet roe, in this 
State, between the 20th day of November of 
any year and the 20th day of January of the 
next succeeding year; Provided that in the 
waters west of Suwannee Kiver the closed 
season in mullet shall be from November 
30th to January 20th following. The pos- 
session of any fresh or freshly salted mullet, 
or any fresh or freshly-salted mullet roe, by 
any person, persons, firm or corporation, 
during the closed season shall be prima facie 
evidence of the violation of this law. 

UNLAWFUL COMMON CARRIER TO TRANS- 
PORT 

Sec. 9. It shall be unlawful for any com- 
mon carrier, agent or employee of such com- 
mon carrier, to receive for carriage, or per- 
mit the carriage of any fresh or unsalted, or 
freshly salted mullet caught during the 
closed season mentioned in the foregoing 
section ; Provided, however, that any person 
having any mullet on hand at the beginning 
of the closed season shall have the right to 
ship or dispose of same ; provided, however, 



Florida A sV/// Water Fish Laws 5 

that the time of such disposal and shipment 
shall not extend beyond ten days after the 
beginning of such closed season. 

CONFISCATION OF BOATS 

Sec. 10. That any owner, captain, person, 
agent, officer, crew or member thereof, of any 
vessel or boat, violating the provisions of 
Section of this Act, shall subject the vessel 
and cargo thereof to seizure by the Shell 
Fish Commissioner, or any of his authorized 
deputies, and taken into custody and deliv- 
ered to the Sheriff of the County in which 
the seizure is made, and shall be liable to for- 
feiture on appropriate proceedings being in- 
stituted by the Shell Fish Commissioner be- 
fore the courts. The following rules to cover 
the proceedings in each such case: 

PROCEEDINGS FOR CONFISCATION 

The proceedings shall be by ordinary suit 
instituted in the name of the State of Flor- 
ida, setting forth the cause of action and 
praying for the forfeiture of said vessel, and 
after due trial, and judgment obtained, said 
vessel shall be sold at public auction by the 
Sheriff at the dock nearest to, or on deck of 
said vessel, after such sale shall have been 
advertised for thirty days in some newspaper 
published in the County, as provided by 
law, and the proceeds of such sale shall be 



6 Florida Salt Water Fish Laics. 

paid to the Shell Fish Commissioner, to be 
deposited in the State Treasury, to the credit 
of the Shell Fish Fund, after deducting costs 
and fees prescribed by law in judicial sales. 
The cargo of the seized vessel, if perishable, 
shall at once be sold to the best advantage 
by the Sheriff, and the proceeds disposed of 
in the same manner as the proceeds from the 
sale of the vessel. Pending this proceedings, 
such vessel may be released upon the owner 
furnishing bond with good and solvent se- 
curity, in double the value of the vessel, 
which bond shall remain in lieu of said ves- 
sel and cargo, in the hands of the sheriff, to 
insure its being returned in good condition 
to the sheriff, and have same subjected to the 
judgment of the court, or to pay the amount 
of judgment and costs rendered in the suit. 

UNLAWFUL TO CAPTURE FOOD FISH FOR 
OIL OR COMPOST 

Sec. 11. No person, persons, firm or cor- 
poration shall catch or capture any of the 
following fish : Mullet, trout, redfish, sheep- 
head, pompano, mackerel, bluefish, red 
snapper, grouper or any other food fish 
when in the waters under the jurisdiction of 
the State of Florida, for the purpose of mak- 
ing oil, fertilizer or compost therefrom. 

UNLAWFUL TO THROW DYNAMITE OR OTH- 
ER EXPLOSIVES IN WATERS 

Sec. 12. No person, persons, firm or cor- 



Florida Salt Water Fish Laics t 

poration shall throw or cause to be thrown 
into any of the waters of Uiis State any 
dynamite, lime or other explosive whatever 
for the purpose of killing the fish therein. 

UNLAWFUL TO FISH WITH SEINES IN CER- 
TAIN COUNTIES 

Sec. 13. It shall be unlawful for any per- 
son, persons, firm or corporation to take or 
catch any fish with haul seines or draguets 
in any or all of the salt waters of the coun- 
ties of Volusia, Brevard, St. Lucie, Palm 
Beach, Broward, and all salt waters in Dade 
County north of Biscayne Bay. 

LICENSE TAX ON DEALERS 

Sec. 14. No person, persons, firm or cor- 
poration shall engage in the business of 
wholesale fish dealer until such person, per- 
sons, firm or corporation shall have first 
procured from the Commissioner of Agricul- 
ture of the State of Florida, an annual fish 
dealer's license, for which a charge of ten 
dollars shall be made. All retail fish dealers 
shall pay a license tax of five dollars per 
annum. A wholesale fish dealer shall be 
considered any one who sells fish to a retail 
dealer other than the person who catches 
the fish, and a retail dealer shall be consid- 
ered any one who sells fish direct to the con- 
sumer; provided, however, that any one 
holding a merchandise license may sell salt- 



S Florida Salt \Yatei- Fish Laics. 

cured fish without payment of such retail 
dealer's license. 

LICENSE TAX ON BOATS 

Any and all boats or vessels engaged in 
the fishing industry in the salt waters of the 
State, before beginning operations, must 
first procure a police license from the Com- 
missioner of Agriculture, and for this pur- 
pose the owner, captain or agent of such 
vessel must present in writing to the said 
Commissioner of Agriculture an application 
setting forth the name and description of 
such vessel, name and postoffice of the own- 
er, the number of nets carried by such boat, 
and any further data as said Commissioner 
of Agriculture shall deem necessary, on 
blanks to be furnished by the Commissioner 
of Agriculture, and thereupon the Commis- 
sioner of Agriculture shall register such 
boat or vessel and shall issue necessary li- 
cense on payment of cost thereof. All 
licenses shall be granted to the boat or ves- 
sel according to the folowing schedule: 

Boats under 16 feet long and under 4 feet 
beam, $1.00. 

Boats over 16 feet long and over 4 feet 
beam, 20 cents for each additional foot or 
fraction thereof of length or beam. 

Provided, that any person paying the 
above license shall not be required to pay an 



Florida ISalt Witter Fi.sh Laivs. !) 

additional license for fishing in any fresh 
water. 

ALIEN OR NONRESIDENT BOAT TAX 

An additional license tax of ten dollars 
shall be required of all aliens or non-resi- 
dents of the State of Florida on each boat 
or vessel engaged in the fishing industry in 
this State, operated in whole or in part by 
such alien or non-resident, in addition to the 
boat license tax required in this section. 
The failure of any alien or non-resident to 
secure such additional license for such 
boats before engaging in the fishing industry 
in this State will be considered a violation 
of this Act. 

ALIEN OR NONRESIDENT FISHING TAX 

Whoever being an alien or non-resident of 
this State, and who shall engage in taking 
fish or oysters from the salt waters of this 
State for any purpose other than his own 
individual use, shall be required to pay a 
license tax of ten dollars per annum. Such 
alien or non-resident shall make application 
to the Commissioner of Agriculture over his 
own signature for such license on blanks fur- 
nished by the Commissioner of Agriculture, 
which shall set forth the nationality of such 
alien or non-resident, local address and such 
other information as may be required by the 
Commissioner of Agriculture. 



10 Florida Halt Water Fisli Laws. 
BOAT LICENSE NUMBER 

The said Commissioner of Agriculture 
shall give to each licensed vessel or boat a 
license number, and the owner of such boat 
or vessel shall at once cause to be painted on 
each side of the bow of such boat or vessel, 
in figures at least six inches long and pro- 
portionate width, in a color distinct and dif- 
ferent from the body color of the hull, and 
shall also display said number on the peak 
of the main sail of such vessel, if the same 
be a sailing craft, and each figure on said 
sail shall be at least twelve inches long, of 
proportionate width, and four inches apart. 

LICENSE YEAR TAG 

The Commissioner of Agriculture shall 
give to each licensed vessel or boat, at actual 
cost, a metal tag, on which shall be printed 
the license year for which the same is issued. 
Such metal tag to be prominently displayed 
on such boat or vessel. 

ALL BOATS TO PAY LICENSE TAX 

Payment of this police license and the 
compliance with the provisions and regula- 
tions shall be required of any and all vessels 
and boats engaged in fishing or freighting 
fish or otherwise engaged in the fish ijdus 
try, and all such license tax shall be col- 
lected by the Shell Fish Commissioner or his 
duly authorized deputies. 



Florida Salt Water Fish Laws. 11 

EXCESS NETS 

Every boat or vessel shall be entitled to 
carry and fish one net, and every addi- 
tional net carried by any boat or vessel in 
excess of one net the owner of such boat or 
vessel shall be required to pay a license lax 
on such excess net of $1.00 per annum, and 
such excess net shall have attache! to the 
cork line a metal license tag provided for 
that purpose, bearing the number of such 
excess license. The use of pound nets shall 
be unlawful in the salt waters of the State 
of Florida. 

LICENSE TAXES TO BE COLLECTED BY THE 
SHELL FISH COMMISSIONER 

All license taxes shall be collected by the 
Shell Fish Commissioner or a duly author- 
ized deputy and deposited in some bank des- 
ignated by the Commissioner of Agriculture 
until the end of each month, at which time 
a check shall be drawn against such deposit 
by the Commissioner of Agriculture in favor 
of the State Treasurer, who will place same 
to the credit of the Shell Fish Fund. A 
monthly report shall be made to the Govern- 
or of such report and deposit, setting forth 
the various sources from which such reve- 
nues are derived, and a copy of such report 
shall be delivered to the State Treasurer 
with such remittance. 



12 Florida Halt Water Fish Laws. 

MONEY TO BE TRANSFERRED TO GENERAL 

FUND 

At the end of each calendar month all 
moneys in the Shell Fish Fund in excess of 
110,000 shall be transferred by the State 
Treasurer from the Shell Fish Fund to the 
General Fund in the State Treasury, and 
the State Treasurer shall notify the Com- 
missioner of Agriculture of the transfer of 
such excess funds. 

NO CITY TO COLLECT ADDITIONAL TAX 

The licenses provided by this section be- 
ing police licenses exacted by the State in 
the control of her own property, over which 
a police control is necessary, no county, city, 
town or municipality shall impose any fur- 
ther license tax than herein provided. This 
provision does not, however, prevent State, 
county and municipal tax on personalty and 
realty as now provided by law. 

LICENSE YEAR 

The payment of a license tax, or the pro- 
curing of any license, shall no1 be required 
of persons fishing only with hook and line 
or with rod and reel or similar device. 

Sec. 15. All licenses shall date from 
October 1st of each year and shall expire on 
September 30th of the next succeeding year, 
and shall be issued on blanks or metal tags 



Florida Salt Water F'ish Laics. 13 

provided by the Commissioner of Agricul 

ture and issued from his office. 

LICENSE SUBJECT TO INSPECTION 

Sec. 10. These licenses shall always be 
subject to inspection by the Shell Fish Com- 
missioner, his deputies or agents, and shall 
not be good for any vessel or owner other 
than that for which issued. 

RESIDENT DEFINED 

Sec. 17. No person shall be deemed a resi- 
dent of this State, in the meaning of this 
Act, who has not maintained a continuous 
residence therein for one year, and actually 
resided therein for six months next preced- 
ing the time when he makes application for 
a fishing license. 

BY WHOM ENFORCED 
Sec. 18. The Shell Fish Commissioner, or 
his duly authorized deputies, shall enforce 
the provisions of this law, and for this pur- 
pose they are constituted State Police Of- 
ficers, with full police powers to arrest, 
without warrant, anyone violating any of 
the provisions of this Act. The said Shell 
Fish Commissioner, or his deputies, shall 
have authority, without warrant, to board 
and search any vessel or boat, or enter any 
fish house, warehouse or other building in 
which fish or nets are kept, which they may 
have cause to believe that fish taken out of 



14 Florida Salt Water Fish Laws. 

season are stored, or that contains illegal 
nets. 

BOATS AND PROPERTY TO BE ACQUIRED 

See. 19. That the Shell Fish Commission- 
er shall acquire, subject to the approval of 
the Commissioner of Agriculture, in the 
name of the State of Florida, such boats, 
vessels and other property as may be neces- 
sary to regulate and supervise the enforce- 
ment of this law and the law relating to the 
oysters and clams. 

UNLAWFUL TO RESIST 

Sec. 20. It shall be unlawful for any per- 
son or persons to resist or in any manner 
interfere with the Shell Fish Commissioner, 
or any of his duly authorized deputies, 
while engaged in the performance of the 
duties imposed upon such Shell Fish Com- 
missioner or his duly authorized deputies 
by the provisions of this law or Chapter 
6532, Laws of Florida, relating to oysters 
and clams. 

APPROPRIATIONS 

Sec. 21. The sum of f 10,000 is hereby ap- 
propriated to be used in carrying out the 
provisions of this law, in addition to monies 
collected by the Shell Fish Commissioner or 
his duly authorized deputies. The Shell 
Fish Commissioner shall receive a salary of 



Florida Salt Wafer Fish Laws. 15 

$3,500 per annum, payable monthly out of 
any funds in the State Treasury not other- 
wise appropriated, and shall be in full for 
all services rendered under the provisions of 
this Act, or as Shell Fish Commissioner 
under any other law; provided, however, 
that the Shell Fish Commissioner, before 
being allowed the use of the appropriation 
as mentioned in this section, shall give a 
good and sufficient bond in the sum of $10,- 
000, said bond to be approved by the Attor- 
ney General of the State. 

AUDITING ACCOUNTS 

Sec. 22. All accounts, claims and bills of 
any nature against the fishing industry 
shall be examined by the Shell Fish Com- 
missioner, and if found correct, same shall 
be approved and delivered to the Comptrol- 
ler, who, upon receipt of any account, claim 
or bill against the fish industry, approved 
by the Shell Fish Commissioner, shall issue 
a warrant drawn on the State Treasury 
against the Shell Fish Fund, to pay such 
account, claim or bill. All warrants drawn 
on said Shell Fish Fund by the Comptroller 
shall specify the indebtedness such warrants 
are intended to liquidate in whole or part, 
which warrant the State Treasurer shall 
honor and pay out of any monies to the 
credit of said Shell Fish Fund. 



16 Florida Salt Water Fish Laws. 

DUTIES OF ATTORNEY GENERAL AND 
STATES ATTORNEYS 

Sec. 23. It shall be the duty of the At 
torney General of the State of Florida and 
the various State Attorneys or the Prose- 
cuting Attorney for such county to attend 
to all legal business arising in connection 
with the enforcement of this law. 

COURTS OF EQUITY MAY ENJOIN 

Sec. 24. The courts of equity of the State 
of Florida shall have jurisdiction to enforce 
the provisions of this Act and of Chapter 
6532, Laws of Florida, by writ of injunc- 
tion. 

PENALTIES 

Sec. 25. Anyone violating any of the pro- 
visions of this Act shall be fined in the sum 
of not exceeding six hundred dollars, or by 
imprisonment not exceeding one year, or by 
both such fine and imprisonment. 

Sec. 26. All laws and parts of laws, 
whether general or local in their nature, in 
conflict with this Act be and the same are 
hereby repealed. 

Sec. 27. This Act shall take effect imme- 
diately upon its passage and approval by 
the Governor. 

Approved May 25, 1915. 



SPECIAL 

SALT WATER FISH 

LAWS 



FRANKLIN COUNTY 

AN ACT to Provide for the Size of Bar and 
Mesh and Length of Seines Fished or 
Used in the Salt Waters of Franklin 
County, Florida, and to Provide Penalties 
for the Violation of the Same. 

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the 
State of Floridas 

Section 1. That on and after the passage 
of this Act, seines of one and one-quarter 
inch bar, measured from knot to knot, or a 
stretched mesh of two and one-half inches, 
measured from knot to knot, and of a 
greater length than three hundred and fifty 
yards, may be fished or used in the salt 
waters of the County of Franklin, State of 
Florida. 

Sec. 2. Anyone found guilty of fishing 
or using a seine of a smaller bar or mesh 
than described in Section 1 of this Act shall 
be fined in a sum not to exceed six hundred 
dollars, or by imprisonment not exceeding 
one year, or by both such fine and imprison- 
ment. Provided, however, that seines or 
nets may be of smaller bar or mesh that are 
fished and used exclusively f<»r taking and 
catching shrimp. 

Sec. 3. That the Shell Fish Commission* 



22 Florida Salt Water Fish Laws. 

er of the State of Florida, or his duly au 
thorized deputies, shall enforce the provi 
sions of this Act. 

Sec. 4. This Act shall take effect imme- 
diately upon its passage and approval by 
the Governor. 

Approved May 29, 1915. 



PASCO COUNTY 

AX ACT Prohibiting the Catching of Fish 
With Nets or Seines in the Lacootee 
River, or in Any Creek, Bayou or Inlet 
in Pasco County, Florida. 

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the 
State of Florida : 

Section 1. That from and after the pas- 
sage of this Act it shall be unlawful for any 
person to fish with nets or seines in the 
Lacootee River, or in any of the creeks, 
bayous or inlets in Pasco County, Florida. 

Sec. 2. Any person convicted of violation 
of the provisions of this Act shall be fined 
not more than Two Hundred ($200.00) Dol- 
lars, or imprisonment of not more than 
ninety days, or both. 

Sec. 3. This Act shall take effect upon 
its becoming a law. 

Approved May 29, 1915. 



Florida Salt Water Fish Laws. i':: 



VOLUSIA COUNTY 

A\ ACT To Establish a Reservation for the 
Protection and Propagation of and To 

Regulate the Means and Methods of rap- 
turing Fish in the Waters of New Smyrna 
Inlet, Hillsboro (Indian River North), 
Halifax River, iSpruce, Tomoka, Bulow 
and Smith Creeks and the Bays and Trib 
utary Waters Thereof, Lying North of 
the Town of Hawks Park, Florida, or the 
29th Parallel North Latitude, in the Coun- 
ty of Volusia, State of Florida; To For- 
bid the Use of Any Nets Whatsoever, Ex- 
cept the Ordinary Cast Net, and To Pro- 
vide Penalties for the Violation of the 
Provisions of Said Act. 

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the 
State of Florida : 

Section 1. That all waters of New Smyrna 
Inlet, Hillsboro (Indian River North), Hali- 
fax River, Spruce, Tomoka, Bulow and Smith 
Tieeks, and the Bays and tributary waters 
thereof, lying north of the Town of Hawks 
Park, Florida, or the 29th Parallel, North 
Latitude, in the County of Volusia, State of 
Florida, are hereby declared a reservation 
for the protection and propogation of fishes 
of all kinds. 

Sec. 2. That it shall be unlawful for 
any person, persons, firm or corporation to 



24 Florida Salt Water Fish Laws. 

capture any of the fish except Flounders, in 
the waters of New Smyrna Inlet, Hillsboro 
(Indian River North), Halifax River, 
Spruce, Tomoka, Bulow and Smith Creeks 
and the Bays and tributary waters thereof, 
lying north of the Town of Hawks Park, 
Florida, or the 29th Parallel, North Lati- 
tude, in the County of Volusia, State of 
Florida, in any other way or with any other 
appliance than the ordinary cast net, rod 
and reel, or with hook and line. 

Sec. 3. That it shall be unlawful for any 
person, persons, firm or corporation to haul, 
drag, set or use for any purpose whatsoever 
any seine, haul net, drag net, gill net, stop 
net or any net of any kind or description 
whatsoever except the ordinary cast net, in 
the waters of New Smyrna Inlet, Hillsboro 
(Indian River North), Halifax River, 
Spruce, Tomoka, Bulow and Smith Creeks 
and the Bays and tributary waters thereof, 
lying north of the Town of Hawks Park, 
Florida, or the 29th Parallel, North Lati- 
tude, in the County of Volusia, State of 
Florida. 

Sec. 4. That the Shell Fish Commissioner 
of the State of Florida, or his duly author 
ized deputies, shall enforce the provisions of 
this Act. 

See. 5. Any person violating any of the 
provisions of this Act shall be guilty of a 



Florida Salt Water Fish Laics. 25 

misdemeanor and punished as provided by 

law. 

See. 6. All local laws and parts of local 
laws, in conflict with the provisions of this 
Act, be and the same are hereby repealed. 
Provided, however, that nothing in this Act 
shall repeal any provisions of the General 
Act, passed by the Session of the Legisla- 
ture of 1915, for the protection and regula- 
tion of the salt water fishing industry of 
the State; except wherein said General Act 
is in conflict with this Act. 

Sec. 7. This Act shall take effect imme- 
diately upon its passage and approval by 
the Governor. 

Approved June 2, 1915. 



ESCAMBIA COUNTY 

AN ACT to Protect and Regulate the Salt 
Water Fishing Industry in the Waters of 
Bayou Chico. Bayou Grande and Bayou 
Texar, in Escambia County, Florida, and 
Providing Penalties for Violation of 
Same. 

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the 
State of Florida : 

Section 1. That it shall be unlawful for 



26 Florida tialt Water Fish Laws. 

any person, persons, firm or corporation to 
fish, haul, drag or set any seine, gill -net, 
stop-net, haul-net or an} r other kind of net 
or device for the purpose of catching fish, 
in the waters of Bayou Chico, Bayou Grande 
and Bayou Texar, in Escambia County, 
Florida; provided, however, that nothing 
herein shall be so construed as to prohibit 
fishing in said waters during the season 
allowed by the laws of the State with cast 
net or the gigging of flounders, or the use 
of crab-nets for catching crabs, or fishing 
with hook and line. 

Sec. 2. The Shell Fish Commissioner of 
the State of Florida, or his duly authorized 
deputies, or the Sheriff of Escambia Coun- 
ty, or any of his deputies, shall enforce the 
provisions of this Act. 

Sec. 3. Any person violating any of the 
provisions of this Act shall be guilty of a 
misdemeanor and punished accordingly. 

Sec. 4. All local laws and parts of local 
laws in conflict with the provisions of this 
Act be and the same are hereby repealed ; 
provided, however, that nothing in this Act 
shall repeal any provisions of the General 
Act as passed by the session of the Legis 
lature of 1915, for the protection and regu 
lation of the salt water fishing industry of 
the State, except wherein said General Act 
is in conflict with this Act. 



Florida Salt Water Fish Luics. 



n 



Sec 5. This Act shall take effect imme- 
diately upon its passage and approval bv 
i he Governor. 

Approved .June 4, 1915. 



ESCAMBIA, SANTA ROSA AND WAL- 
TON COUNTIES 

AN ACT to Protect and Regulate the Salt 
Water Fishing Industry in That Portion 
of Santa Rosa Sound Known as the "Nar- 
rows," and Garniers Bayou, Five Mile 
Bayou, Don Bayou, Niger Bayou and Lit- 
tle Bayou. Said Bayous Connecting or 
Tributary to Choctawhatchee Bay, and 
That Portion of Choctawhatchee Bay 
Lying West of Township® One and Two 
South, Range Twenty-two West. Said 
Waters Being in the Counties of Escam- 
bia, Santa Rosa and Walton Counties, 
Florida, and Providing Penalty for Viola- 
tion of This Act. 

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of tJir 
State of Florida: 

Section 1. That it shall be unlawful for 
any person, persons, firm or corporation to 
fish, drag, haul or set in the waters of Santa 



128 Florida Salt Water Fish Laws. 

Rosa Sound, known as the "Narrows," and 
Garniers Bayou, Five Mile Bayou, Don 
Bayou, Niger Bayou and Little Bayou, con- 
necting or tributary to Choetawhatchee 
Bay, and that portion of Choetawhatchee 
Bay lying west of Townships One and Two 
South, Range Twenty-two West, any seine, 
net, trap, basket or any other device what- 
ever for the purpose of catching fish. Said 
waters being and lying in the Counties of 
Escambia, Santa Rosa and Walton Coun- 
ties, State of Florida. Provided, however, 
that nothing in this Act shall be so con- 
strued as to prevent fishing in any of the 
waters named, with a cast-net for catching 
bait or with hook and line. 

Sec. 2. The Shell Fish Commissioner of 
the State of Florida, or his duly authorized 
deputies, shall enforce the provisions of this 
Act. 

Sec. 3. Any person violating the provi 
sions of this Act shall be deemed guilty of 
a misdemeanor and punished as provided 
by law. 

Sec. 4. All local laws and parts of local 
laws iu conflict with the provisions of this 
Act be and the same are hereby repealed. 
Provided, however, that nothing in this Act 
shall repeal any of the provisions of the 
General Act, passed by the session of the 
Legislature of 1915, for the protection and 



Florida Salt Water Fish Laics. 29 

regulation of the salt water fishing indus 
try of the State of Florida. 

Sec. 5. This Act shall take effect imme- 
diately upon its passage and approval by 
the Governor. 

Approved June 4, 1915. 



ST. LUCIE COUNTY 

AN ACT Prescribing the Mesh of Haul 
;Seins and Drag Nets To Be Used in St. 
Lucie County, and Repealing Chapter 
5973 of the Acts of 1909, Laws of Florida, 
as Said Act Relates to St. Lncie County, 
Florida. 

Be It Enacted ~by the Legislature of the 
State of Florida: 

Section 1. It shall be unlawful for any 
person, firm or corporation to take or catch 
any fish with haul seins or drag nets in 
any or all of the salt or fresh waters of the 
County of St. Lucie, the mesh of which shall 
be less than three and one-half inches 
stretched measure, that is to say three and 
one-half inches when brought to a square. 

Sec. 2. Chapter 5973, Laws of Florida, of 
the Acts of 1909, are hereby repealed insofar 



30 Florida Salt Water Fish Lairs. 

as said chapter relates to St. Lucie County, 
Florida. 

Sec. 3. Any person, firm or corporation 
violating any of the provisions of Section 1 
shall be punished as prescribed and pro- 
vided in the General Act for misdemeanors. 

Sec. 4. All laws or parts of laws in con 7 
flict herewith are hereby repealed. 

Sec. 5. This Act shall go into effect im- 
mediately upon its passage and approval by 
the Governor. 

Approved June 4, 1915. 



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